Wally Joyner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Joyner was the starting first baseman in the 1986 All-Star Game and tied Darryl Strawberry for first place in that year's Home Run Derby. During the 1986 season, he broke up two no-hit bids in the ninth inning. Against the Texas Rangers on June 16, he foiled Charlie Hough's bid with a single with one out in the ninth, scoring Jack Howell to tie the game at 1–1; Joyner's hit would be the Angels' only one of the game, and he eventually scored the winning run on a passed ball for a 2–1 Angels victory. Against the Detroit Tigers on August 20, Joyner broke up Walt Terrell's bid for a no-hitter by doubling with two out in the ninth; this would also be the Angels only hit in losing to the Tigers 3–0. When the Angels met the New York Yankees in a game in August 1986, a fan threw a knife at Joyner. Joyner was grazed on the left arm by the butt end of the weapon, escaping injury. Joyner and the Angels advanced to the 1986 American League Championship Series, where they came within one strike of reaching the franchise's first World Series before losing in seven games. In game 3 of the series, Joyner was running home on an infield hit, and as he stepped on home plate, he unknowingly opened up a previously unseen staph infection on his shin, which led to him having to be hospitalized and miss the rest of the series. At the end of the 1986 season, Joyner was the runner-up in the voting for the Rookie of the Year Award, losing to José Canseco. On October 3, 1987, Joyner hit three solo home runs against the Indians in a 12–5 victory on the next to last day of the season. He finished the 1987 season with 34 home runs and 117 RBI, both career highs.

In Their Own Story

Joyner credited a stint with the Mayagüez Indians of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League as fundamental in his improvement as a slugger. Then-batting coach José Manuel Morales forced him to do power weight training and modify his posture at the batting cage, so as to develop upper body strength. He gained 10 pounds of muscle as a result of his workouts. He was consequently the top hitter on Puerto Rico's winter league on the 1985–86 season, winning the Triple Crown (.356, 14 HR, 48 RBI) in 54 games. That preparation carried into his rookie season, where he became the starting first baseman in the All-Star Game and tied for first in the Home Run Derby. After six years with the Angels, Joyner signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent for the 1992 season. He played with the Royals for four years. After the 1995 season, Joyner was traded to the San Diego Padres for Bip Roberts. He played with the Padres for four years, and was the starting first baseman on the 1998 pennant-winning team. After the 1999 season, Joyner was traded to the Atlanta Braves in a deal that also sent Reggie Sanders to the Braves and Bret Boone and Ryan Klesko to the Padres. He played with the Braves for one year before ending his career, as he wished, where it had begun, with the Anaheim Angels. Joyner announced his retirement on June 16, 2001. In a taped message that was played on the Edison Field videoboard after the first inning that day, he thanked the Angels fans for their support and received a standing ovation.

Reader's Guide

In a 16-year career, Joyner posted a .289 batting average with 204 home runs and 1,106 RBI in 2,033 games played. Defensively, he was an excellent first baseman, recording a career .994 fielding percentage. He led the American League in fielding percentage at first base in 1989 and 1995 and the National League in 1996 and 1997. In a November 2005 interview with ESPN The Magazine, Joyner revealed that he had briefly used steroids. At age 36, as his career was beginning to decline, he asked Padres teammate Ken Caminiti how to obtain them and did so. He took three pills before deciding not to continue and flushed them down the toilet. Joyner told Buster Olney that his reason for telling his story in public was to set the record straight for the sake of his daughters. Joyner was listed in the 2007 Mitchell Report. After his playing career, Joyner served as a hitting coach for the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies assistant hitting coach, and Detroit Tigers hitting coach. He resides in Mapleton, Utah. Joyner has invested in and appeared in films marketed to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including playing "Brother Angel" (a reference to the California Angels) in The Singles Ward, and "Brother Jensen" in the 2003 movie, The R.M.. He is the nephew of former United States Senator Paula Hawkins.

Did You Know?

• Joyner was grazed on the left arm by the butt end of a knife thrown by a fan during a game against the New York Yankees in August 1986, escaping injury.
• He broke up two no-hit bids in the ninth inning during the 1986 season — one against Charlie Hough and one against Walt Terrell — with both hits being the Angels' only hits of those games.
• Joyner won the Triple Crown in the Puerto Rican Winter League during the 1985–86 season, batting .356 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI in 54 games.
• He is the nephew of former United States Senator Paula Hawkins.
• Joyner announced his retirement on June 16, 2001, and received a standing ovation after a taped message was played on the Edison Field videoboard.